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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

modified junk-type mechanized vessels are used as general purpose demonstration vessels and a small steel trawler, the Alister Hardy, is available for off-shore extension activities.

The Department administers the Fisheries Development Loan Fund of $2 million, allotted specifically for the development of the Colony's middle and distant waters fleet, and Colonial Develop- ment and Welfare Scheme D1967 which provides mechanization loans for fishermen. There is close co-operation with the Fish Marketing Organization which administers two other fisheries loan funds and investigates all applications for loans from these funds, which provide capital of over $4.5 million for the development of the industry.

The Fisheries Research Station has a position in Hong Kong comparable with other national and regional institutes studying fisheries resources elsewhere. Its activities centre on a biological and oceanographical investigation of the continental shelf within a radius of approximately 500 miles of the Colony, extending from Formosa to the Gulf of Tong King. The Station operates the research trawler Cape St Mary of 240 tons, a gift from Her Majesty's Government. Other activities include research into the culture of Chinese carp and other pond fish and studies of edible and pearl oysters.

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Fisheries. Marine fish is Hong Kong's first primary product and the fishing fleet is the largest of any port in the Colonies. Over 10,400 fishing junks of various sizes and designs and twenty four Japanese type trawlers, ten, of which are British registered, sail from the Colony. They are manned by a sea-going population of about 86,000, chiefly Tanka people, and the fishing centres are Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan on Hong Kong Island, and Tai Po, Castle Peak, the Tolo Channel area, Sha Tau Kok, Sai Kung, Tai O and Cheung Chau in the New Territories.

Junks are built locally from imported timber, China fir being the most popular material, but in recent years continued shortages of fir have led to the increased use of teak and yacal. About 95% of the fleet is owner operated, and the rest are directed by fish dealers and fishing companies.

Purse seiners, gill netters, shrimp trawlers and other inshore vessels operate mainly to the south of the Colony inside the